Love
I would not have this perfect love of ours
From Earlier Poems
I would not have this perfect love of ours
Grow from a single root, a single stem,
Bearing no goodly fruit, but only flowers
That idly hide life's iron diadem:
It should grow alway like that Eastern tree
Whose limbs take root and spread forth constantly;
That love for one, from which there doth not spring
Wide love for all, is but a worthless thing.
Not in another world, as poets prate,
Dwell we apart above the tide of things,
High floating o'er earth's clouds on faery wings;
But our pure love doth ever elevate
Into a holy bond of brotherhood
All earthly things, making them pure and good.
Cite this poem
MLA
Lowell, James Russell. “I would not have this perfect love of ours.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/lowell/151/.
Chicago
Lowell, James Russell. “I would not have this perfect love of ours.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/lowell/151/.
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